Healthcare Professional Career: Licensed Vocational Nurse

A Licensed Vocational Nurse carries out the following: First of all, an LVN takes care of the individuals who are suffering from injuries, sicknesses, disabilities, and even those who are on their way to recovery. They do the aforementioned though based on the physicians, as well as, registered nurses’ instructions. Secondly, they are responsible for checking the patient’s blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and other vital signs. Third, it is also an LVN’s responsibility to change wound dressings, check catheters, manage bedsores, provides alcohol massages, as well as, to inject patients. Fourth, an LVN is also accountable for a patient’s allergic reactions to any medication or treatment provided by the health care institution. Fifth, it is an LVN’s task to carry out laboratory tests or gather samples for testing, feed patients, and note down the intake of food and fluid, as well as, the number of times the patient’s urinated and defecated.  Sixth, it is the LVN’s function to oversee the patient’s personal hygiene as well. The LVN ought to help out a patient when taking a bath, dressing up, etc. Seventh, LVN’s oversee patients who are about to take in prescribed medicines or intravenous fluids, however, this is only a function of LVNs in selected States where it is permissible to do so. Eighth, they also provide assistance in the delivery, as well as, feeding of babies. Ninth, LVNs can take charge and direct nursing assistants and aides but such a task is only delegated to those LVNs who are considered to be experienced. Tenth, LVNs are also in charge of the assessment of needs of the patients, development of care plans, supervision of nursing aides, organization of patients’ records, the setting of appointments, and other responsibilities which are categorically clerical.

Personal Qualities and Abilities Needed for Success

An LVN who intends to become successful should have the following personal qualities and abilities:

1. exceedingly caring;
2. extremely sympathetic;
3. emotionally stable;
4. can keep up with continuous stress;
5. enthusiastic;
6. very devoted;
7. decision-making skills;
8. good communication skills;
9. flexibility in taking orders of supervisors;
10. positive outlook in life;
11. extreme patience;
12. etc.

Educational Requirements

An LVN is necessitated to accomplish a practical nursing program from any State-approved learning institution. A future LVN should pass the following subjects: anatomy, basic nursing concepts, drug administration, medical nursing, nutrition, obstetrics, pediatrics, physiology, psychiatric, surgical nursing, etc. A soon-to-be LVN should also undergo a clinical practice in the hospital or any other health care institution. It should be kept in mind that such clinical practice should be supervised. Also, it should be noted that typically, a high school diploma is asked before admission to the program aforementioned.

Licensure, Certification and/ or Requirements

The following are the requirements necessitated for LVNs to qualify from the licensing exam technically referred to as NCLEX-ON.

Possible Places of Employment

There are vacancies for LVNs in the following:

1. hospitals;
2. nursing homes;
3. offices of doctors;
4. home health care services;
5. homes for the aged/elderly;
6. educational services or institutions;
7. outpatient care health institutions;
8. Federal agencies;
9. state agencies.

Advancement Opportunities

LVNs have a lot of advancement opportunities and some of these are the following:

1. LVNs can supervise nursing aides and even other LVNs. This is especially allowed in nursing homes/nursing care facilities.
2. LVNs can undergo training programs to promote himself or herself and become a Registered Nurse.

Wages, Benefits, Standard Payroll Deductions

LVNs working at the doctor’s office earn approximately 30K per year, while those who serve at surgical hospitals earn about 33K per year, those involved in-home health care services earn about 35K per year, while those in the nursing care facilities are given about 35.5K, and last but not least, those who are in the employment services earn almost 42K per year. Standard payroll deductions include taxes, social security, etc. Job Outlook for the Future Projected Employment in CALIFORNIA. It is said that the job outlook in California is superior and there will be an increase in the employment rate because of the fact that the population for the elderly continues to increase.

Preparing for an Interview

1. I will prepare myself for an interview by making sure to keep the following in mind:
2. know more about the health care institution where I am applying at to add to my credibility;
3. dress up professionally and presentably;
4. practice answering typical interview questions;
5. find people who will serve as my references that will surely sell me to potential employers;
6. bring my resume, driver’s license, social security, and other pertinent documents;
7. sell me by proudly and confidently stating my strengths, abilities, etc;
8. say thank you to the person who provided me with the opportunity to be interviewed.

Reference

1. Licensed Vocational Nurse California. (2007). Retrieved April 17, 2007, from
2. http://education-portal.com/licensed_vocational_nurse_california.html
3. Ten Tips on Preparing for a Job Interview. Retrieved April 17, 2007, from
4. http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/careers-job-interview/11120-2.html
5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2006). Licensed Vocational Nurses. Retrieved April 17, 2007
6. from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos102.htm